Clasp.



S. ZBUGSGHMIDT.

CLASP.

APPLIUATION FILED JULY 2411909.

975,-102 Y Patented NovQs, 1910.

wlTNl-:ssss INVENToR y f www `(preferably of stamped SOPHIAZEUGSG'HMIDT, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

CLASP.

Application filed July 24, 1969.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 8, 1910.

serial No. 509,255.

T o all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SOPHIA ZnUGscHMIDT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Iittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inGlasps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices for supporting hosiery and the like. Ithas for its chief objects; the provision of an improved clasp wherebythe article supported is securely held by means of a safety or lockingdevice; the provision of an improved safety or locking device for claspswhich is adaptable to the ordinary forms of clasps; and the provision ofan improved safety clasp wherein the parts are so arranged as to preventtearing of the article supported. To accomplish these and such otherobjects and advantages as may hereinafter appear I employ a device whichis illustrated in its preferred form in the accompanying drawing whereinFigure l is a plan view of my improved clasp,

Figure 2 of Fig. l,

Figure plied,

Figure member,

Figure 5 is a section through the supporting loop on the line of Figure1,

Figure 6 is a view of a modified form of locking member and Figure 7 isa view of my improved locking device applied to another form of clasp.

I-Ieretofore devices of this character have been made substantially asindicated in Fig ures 1 and 7, saving that no locking or safety meanswere provided therefor. These devices were imperfect in that the buttonsholding the article supported would become loosened to the discomfortand confusion of the wearer. My invention among other things is intendedto overcome this difficulty. In carrying out my invention I employ anordinary form of supporting loop l metal) provided with the usualelongated slot 2 having one of its ends more narrow than the other. Tothe supporting loop or adjacent thereto is secured a fieXible securingmember 3, which is provided with an upstanding member or button 4. Theoperation of the deis a section on the line II-II 3 is a view showing myclasp apl is a side elevation of the locking Vice so far described is asusual,-namely a portion of the article to be supported is l placedbetween the supporting loop and the securing member over the button,which is then pushed into the large end of the slot 2 and advanced intothe narrow end thereof where it is held in place laterally by the Isides of the loop forming the slot. To hold the button in the narrow endof the slot against longitudinal movement, I provide a swinging' lockingor safety member 5, which is a fiat springy piece pivotally mounted at 6on the upper portion of the loop l, and adapted to be moved between thesides of the slot in the line of the travel of the button. The lower endof the safety member 5 is deflected downward at 8 in order that said endmay lie between the sides of the slot and be retained there by thespringiness of the metal.

The tip of the locking member is upturned to retain the article againstthe holding button, and is rounded off to prevent tearing of the articleso held. The tip may also be provided with a rubber covering as anadditional protection against tearing (see Fig. 6). Vhile the lockingmember is made sufficiently springy to lock itself between the edges ofthe slot it can readily be moved out of position by a slight pressure ofthe hand. This style of locking member can be applied to the form ofclasp illustrated in Fig. l, which is a stamped plate, by simplyriveting it to the portion ofthe plate as indicated. When the clasp isof the type shown in Fig. made of bent wire, a plate having mountedthereon the locking member can be fastened to the sides of the loop bybending or soldering its ends over them. In Fig. 6 I have shown a crosssection of the slot on the line VT of Fig. l. Herein that portion of theloop forming the slot has a rib turned up on its inner edge, the objectbeing to provide a means for holding the locking member in place in theslot. This rib has also the additional function of stiffening theslotted portion of the supporting loop.

By my construction a neat and effective safety clasp is secured-one inwhich the parts are simple and so arranged that the article supported isnot liable to be torn, and a device which can readily be made withoutchange of the dies and other machinery now used for forming common 7which is forms of clasps. These and other advantages Will readily occurto those familiar With the art.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use what I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is the following Thecombination with a securing button, of a member adapted to coperate Withthe button and comprising ak strap engaging portion and a buttonengaging loop integral therewith, and means for maintaining the buttonin such loop comprising a spring catch pivoted at one end to the saidmembei' opposite the said securing button engaging end of the loop forlateral movement into and out of the said loop the said catch having itsfree end position Within the sides of the loop so that the sides of theloop constitute stops to prevent the lateral movement of the catch.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto lying When in operative.

signed my name in the presence of the tivo f' subscribed Witnesses.

SOPHIA ZEUGSCHMIDT. IVitnesses:

HARVEY L. LECHNER, ARoHWonTH MARTIN.

